Drunk Leeds siege dad freed children in exchange for lager and crisps

Leeds Crown Court heard his partner fled the flat in fear when he “flipped” and became abusive and violent when she caught him urinating in the kitchen sink during the incident one night earlier this year.

She alerted police who went to the flat but the man, who has been drinking strong lager all day, locked the doors and brandished a large kitchen knife and cut throat razor while threatening officers.

Prosecutor, Bashir Ahmed, said: “When police arrived he made threats towards them (the police) that he would slit their throats and burn the house down.

“The officers tried their utmost to reason and calm him down through the course of about three hours during which time the children were effectively locked in the house.

“The defendant spat at officers and a lager can at them and urinated at them or towards them.

“At one point he brandished a large kitchen knife and a cut-throat razor.

“He was seen spraying lighter fluid on the front door while making threats to turn the gas on and burn the house down.”

“Specially trained officers were eventually able to calm him down. He only allowed them (the children) to leave) once officers had brought him cans of lager and crisps.”

Mitigating Mark McKone, said: “This was more of a case of keeping the police out than keeping the children in.”

The man, who has a string of previous convictions for offences including dishonesty and violence, had admitted false imprisonment and affray.

Jailing the man for three-years-and-nine-months, judge Robin Mairs told him: “It’s a telling aspect of your humanity that you bartered their freedom for a few cans of lager and crisps.”